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Gail Porter and Duncan Goodhew launch Swimathon 2011

Press release published

Gail Porter, TV presenter, and Duncan Goodhew MBE, Olympic gold medallist held their breath today in an underwater photo shoot to launch Swimathon 2011.

The pair encouraged people to sign up for the challenge which will raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation.

Swimathon 2011 is set to hit a record 580 pools across the UK between April 8-10, when 22,000 swimmers will raise more than £2 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Swimathon Foundation.

Gail Porter said: “Launching Swimathon this year gives me huge pleasure. The challenge is ideal motivation for everyone to pull on their swimsuits, get in the pool and enjoy a much-needed New Year health boost. I find swimming a great way to keep fit, especially as it’s an activity I enjoy with my child. Going down to your local pool and getting them used to being in the water is just the start of the fun. Once my daughter was up and paddling, there was no stopping us!

“What’s more - the money raised will help Marie Curie Cancer Care to provide free nursing care to terminally ill people. I know what a difference this care can make as both my mum and my grandmother died from cancer and received care at home from a Marie Curie Nurse. Caring for a loved one at the end of their life is never going to be an easy time for families but it was made much more bearable for us by the skill and care of these amazing nurses.”

Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew commented: “We are approaching a quarter of a century of Swimathons and I’m delighted to report that last year’s event enjoyed an astonishing 38 per cent rise in swimmers. And what’s really exciting is that around 2,500 of those who dived in told us that they only started swimming again because they entered the event. From these grass roots right up to our overflowing international trophy cabinet, it seems that Britain’s love affair with swimming really is back to stay.”

The majority of funds raised by Swimathon 2011 will help support Marie Curie Nurses who provide free nursing care to people with terminal cancer and other terminal illnesses, in the place of their choice. The charity expects to care for more than 31,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year.

Now in its 24th year, over half a million swimmers have taken part in Swimathon - swimming the equivalent of 24 times around the world and raising more than £34 million for charity.

Early birds (before January 31, 2011) will not only secure their place in what is a sell-out event at many pools and have longer to train for their 1.5k, 2.5k or 5k challenges - but will also enjoy half price registration fees.

Individual and team entries to Swimathon 2011 are open until April 7, 2011. Register at www.swimathon.org or call 0845 36 700 36.

-ENDS-

Contact information

Ben Way, Limelight Sports
Marie Curie press office

Updated

Notes to editor

70 per cent of funds raised by participants in the 2011 national Swimathon will be used by Marie Curie  - see (www.mariecurie.org.uk). The remaining 30% will be used by The Swimathon Foundation - see (www.swimathon.org) for more details.

Marie Curie  is one of the UK’s largest charities.

  • Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it expects to provide care to around 29,000 terminally ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year and is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
  • Funding: Around 70 per cent of the charity’s income comes from the generous support of thousands of individuals, membership organisations and businesses, with the balance of the funds coming from the NHS.
  • Marie Curie Nurses: The charity is best known for its network of Marie Curie Nurses working in the community to provide end-of-life care, totally free for patients in their own homes.
  • Supporting the choice to die at home: Research shows around 65 per cent of people would like to die at home if they had a terminal illness, with a sizeable minority opting for hospice care. However, more than 50 per cent of cancer deaths still occur in hospital, the place people say they would least like to be. Since 2004 Marie Curie Cancer Care has been campaigning for more patients to be able to make the choice to be cared for and die at home.

The Swimathon Foundation, a company limited by guarantee, is the independent registered charity which owns the annual national Swimathon event.

  • The Swimathon Foundation through its trading subsidiary arranges the staging and promotion of the Swimathon event in a nationwide network of participating swimming pools, to encourage members of the public, whatever their age or ability, to understand and realise the benefits of regular swimming as a means to improve health and wellbeing and to achieve personal fitness goals.
  • The Swimathon Foundation selects a National Charity Partner to promote itself and its charitable activities in association with the Swimathon and to receive Funds from members of the public, including those participating in the Swimathon, in support of its activities. For the 2011 Swimathon the selected Charity is Marie Curie Cancer Care.
  • In addition, The Swimathon Foundation aims to support local communities in their efforts to promote the benefits of physical activity, particularly through swimming.

Gail Porter’s career in TV started with children and family-oriented programmes including Top of the Pops, Live and Kicking, the Big Breakfast and the Movie Chart Show. After her nude image was beamed onto the Houses of Parliament by FHM magazine in 1999, Gail appeared in a series of reality TV shows including Channel 4’s The Games.

In 2005, Gail developed alopecia areata, causing her to lose much of her hair. She refused to wear a hat or wig, deciding instead to maintain a public profile and raise awareness of the condition.

In recent years, the 39-year-old from Edinburgh has been a regular panellist on C5’s The Wright Stuff, a guest team captain on What do Kids Know? and has written and presented a documentary on prostitution.

52-year-old Olympic legend Duncan Goodhew remains one of Britain’s most instantly recognisable sportsmen. His many achievements in the pool culminated in a last-gasp Gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Duncan was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 1981 and is now an author, motivational speaker and President of Swimathon.

The 50 per cent discount applies to Distance Challenge Swimathon entry fees paid online or telephone between January 4 and January 31, 2011 only.